c



   
 

An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is used in fiber optics to measure the time and
intensity of the light reflected on an optical fiber.

OTDR is used as a troubleshooting device to find faults, splices, and bends in fiber optic cables,
with an eye toward identifying light loss. Light loss is especially important in fiber optic cables
because it can interfere with the transmission of data. An OTDR can detect such light loss and
pinpoint trouble areas, making repairs easy.

The biggest factor in optical fiber loss is scattering. In fiber, light is scattered in all directions,
including some scattered back toward the source as shown here.

     

An OTDR takes advantage of the scattering of light in the optic fiber to make its measurements.
The OTDR emits a high-power pulse that hits the fiber and bounces back. What comes back is
measured, factoring in time and distance, and the result is "trouble spots," which radiate and can
be targeted for repair. In general, the data take the form of a wave, with trouble spots clearly
visible as aberrations in the wave.


  




The OTDR Trace results are represented as a graph which typically has the distance traveled by
the light pulses (in meters) on the X axis and their corresponding power levels (in dB) on the Y
axis. This graph can be seen live either on the OTDR Tester screen (or) on a computer screen
connected to the OTDR for further analysis and conclusions.

Figure: OTDR Display

 
Operating an OTDR is not especially difficult, but it does require familiarity with the particulars
of the make and model you are using. To properly operate an OTDR, you generally have to make
the following settings:
1.Ê a
. Singlemode or multimode.
2.Ê ð

. Singlemode is set for 1310 nm or 1550 nm, and multimode is set for 850 nm
or 1300 nm.
3.Ê ÿ    . The typical parameters to be set are distance range, resolution,
and pulse width.
4.Ê -
  . This determines how much loss or change will be tagged as an event.
5.Ê =    . This is the speed of light in that fiber. You can obtain this figure from
the fiber manufacturer. In most cases you can take it directly from a standard spec sheet.
6.Ê ?   . These are usually labeled in feet or meters.
7.Ê ï 
 . This should be cleared so a new figure can be saved and/or stored.
8.Ê ?    . You must connect this fiber, which should be sufficiently long,
between the OTDR and the fiber under test. Sometimes you may have to connect it at the
far end of the cable, as well.

ÿ ÿ




OTDR testers can be used for some (or) all of the following:

jÊ Locating fiber cable cuts/ breaks. OTDR can be used to predict the distance (in meters
from the source) where the optical fiber cable has been disconnected.
jÊ ÿeasuring the performance of optical fiber cable connections by detecting various types
of signal losses (like point of high loss/ reflectance, end to end link loss, optical return
loss, etc).
jÊ ÿeasuring the distance between two points on a fiber cable link.
jÊ Identifying unclean/broken connectors.
jÊ Identifying Sharp bends/ cracks in optical fiber links that affect the signal power.
jÊ Identifying dissimilar and mismatched fibers (for example, 50 micrometer fiber & 62.5
micrometer fiber) that are connected together affecting the intensity of the light signal.
jÊ Identifying usage of fiber patch cords with a different/incorrect core size that affect signal
strength.
jÊ Incorrect fiber laying methods which result in some light leaking from the optical fiber
cables.

When high power light pulses are sent in to an Optical Fiber Cable (Core), a small portion of this
light is reflected back to the source due to small defects in the glass that fibers are made of. This
is called backscatter. Reflections can also be caused inside an optical fiber cable (core) due to
sharp bends, cracks, splices, cable terminations, cable cuts, etc.

So, an OTDR Tester sends a series of short but high intensity light pulses in to the core of an
optical fiber cable and records the power of the reflected light (at various points) as each pulse
travels across the fiber cable. It uses specialized pulse laser diodes and high gain light detectors
for this purpose.

  
 ÿ 

The OTDR measures distance and loss between the two markers. This can be used for measuring
loss of a length of fiber, where the OTDR will calculate the attenuation coefficient of the fiber,
or the loss of a connector or splice.

To measure the length and attenuation of the fiber, markers are placed on either end of the
section of fiber to be tested. The OTDR then calculates the distance difference between the two
markers and give the distance. It also reads the difference between the power levels of the two
points where the markers cross the trace and calculate the loss, or difference in the two power
levels in dB. Finally, it calculates the attenuation coefficient of the fiber by dividing loss by
distance and presents the result in dB/km, the normal units for attenuation.

!   
 

jÊ 
 
  This occurs when a fiber has been shattered or immersed in liquid.
In both cases, very little light reflects back to the OTDR, and it¶s difficult to identify the
break.
jÊ A
 A gainer is a splice in a fiber that shows up as a gain in power. A passive device
like a splice cannot generate light and cannot cause a gain in light. But if there is a
mismatch in the fibers that are spliced, it may appear to the OTDR as a gain. For
example, if the splice goes from a 50-micron fiber to a 62.5-micron fiber, the difference
in backscatter coefficients (the 62.5-micron core being larger) appears to the OTDR as a
gain in light.
jÊ A  Ghosts are repetitions of a trace or portion of a trace. They are caused by a large
reflection in a short fiber, causing light to bounce back and forth.


jÊ 
An OTDR unit can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
jÊ  " 
 OTDRs have a ³dead zone´ that may extend a hundred meters from the unit
in which accurate readings are unavailable.
jÊ   

 
  testing one end of a cable with an OTDR, you can cause
inaccuracy. Testing both ends of the fiber and averaging the gives a fairly accurate
measurement.
jÊ Accidental connection to a receiver can damage the receiver due to the high
instantaneous power levels. There can be some optical safety issues associated with the
high pulse powers in these instruments, which often exceed +20 dBm.
jÊ -
  
 OTDR readings must be analyzed and interpreted by trained and
experienced people. It¶s difficult for a less qualified installer to operate an OTDR and
make sense out of it. As a result, using this device can require considerable time and
effort.
jÊ The distance measurement accuracy is only about 1 - 2 % at best. For example a
displayed result of 12.1567 Km is actually more realistically 11.91 - 12.39 Km, an
uncertainty to field staff of nearly half a Km.
jÊ It can produce inaccurate results if two trouble spots are very close together or if the
pulse has a long travel length.
jÊ Interpreting the trace requires too much skill for most field technicians. Since only highly
skilled users can set up the parameters for this automation, in some circumstances most
users can get into major difficulty.
jÊ Cannot be used in compliance with new multimode fiber optics loss measuring standards,
which mandate the use on an LED source with defined characteristics.

jÊ Acceptance verification is relatively easy, since standard procedures and automated

measurement can generally be used. However using the same instrument for fault finding
may require a totally different class of operator, who understands how control the
measurement process in great detail, and also interpret the trace accurately.
jÊ Limited use on "passive optical network" systems that use couplers or splitters to connect
one source to multiple locations. This is because measuring in this configuration only
works in one direction, and so this method cannot be reliable.
jÊ Because of the skill requirements, the majority of organizations end up with a small
number of identified "experienced" operators, who train others, and are called out to
problem situations.
jÊ Limited ability to separate multiple point losses that are fairly close together. This
problem happens quite regularly in practice, and is due to the "dead zone" effect..
jÊ Limited accuracy when determining the end to end loss of a system. It typically makes a
poor job of measuring the loss of the end connectors, which are themselves a cause of
problems.
jÊ Factors to look for are now typically ease of use, quality of automation program, good
local support, and compatibility with previously acquired measurement file types.